U.S. state

A state in the United States is a constituent political entity. There are currently 50 states in the Union. Each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a specific geographic territory. This system is known as federalism. In this system, states share sovereignty with the federal government. This means Americans are citizens of both the federal republic and their specific state.

States are not merely administrative divisions of the country. Under the Tenth Amendment, powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people. This allows each state to organize its own government within certain constitutional limits.

State governments operate through three distinct branches of power. These are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This structure is based on republican principles. The executive branch is led by a governor, who is the head of state and government. Governors are chosen by direct election by the people. They can approve or veto bills passed by the legislature. In 44 states, governors possess line-item veto power. This allows them to veto specific parts of a bill rather than the whole thing.

The legislative branch is responsible for enacting state laws. It also manages the appropriation of money for public policy. In 49 of the 50 states, the legislature is bicameral. This means it has two chambers: a Senate and a lower house. The lower house may be called an Assembly or a House of Delegates. Nebraska is the only exception, as it has a unicameral legislature with only one chamber. Most state legislatures are part-time, often called citizen legislatures. However, ten states have full-time legislatures. In 2013, there were 7,383 legislators across all 50 states. Their annual pay ranged from $0 in New Mexico to $90,526 in California.

The judicial branch interprets the laws within the state. Most states have a system of trial courts, appellate courts, and a supreme court. These state courts have broad, general jurisdiction. This is different from federal courts, which have limited jurisdiction. State courts handle a massive volume of legal work. Each year, roughly 30 million new cases are filed in state courts. This is much higher than the 1 million new cases filed in federal courts. To manage this, there are about 30,000 judges serving in state courts.

Legal traditions vary between different states. Most states base their systems on English common law. However, Louisiana is a notable exception. Because it was a former French colony, it uses parts of French civil law. Some states also organize their highest courts differently. Oklahoma and Texas both have separate highest courts for criminal appeals. In New York, the trial court is actually called the Supreme Court. The highest court in New York is called the Court of Appeals. These differences show how states exercise their right to self-organization.

The history of the states began with the Thirteen Colonies. In July 1776, these colonies declared independence during the American Revolutionary War. They became the first Union of states after ratifying the Articles of Confederation. Between 1787 and 1790, the states ratified the U.S. Constitution. This established the modern federal system. Since 1776, the number of states has grown from 13 to 50. Each new state is admitted on an equal footing with the existing states.

The Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. White in 1869 that states cannot unilaterally leave the Union.

States hold significant power over the daily lives of citizens. They possess what is called un-enumerated police power. This is the right to make laws for the general welfare of the people. Historically, states have been responsible for public education and public health. They also manage local transportation, infrastructure, and intrastate commerce. While the federal government now provides much funding and regulation, these remain primary state responsibilities. This balance of power leads to ongoing debates regarding states' rights. These debates focus on the nature of state sovereignty compared to federal authority.